Congressman Celso L. Lobregat has welcomed the establishment of the base headquarters of the 5th Special Action Battalion (SAB) and the 55th Special Action Company (SAC) of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) at the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (ZAMBOECOZONE) at San Ramon, this City.

Lobregat was guest during the signing of the Deed of Usufruct entered into and signed by the ZAMBOECOZONE and the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) for the establishment of a permanent PNP SAF Complex inside the complex’s 2nd Industrial Park. The 2-hectare PNP-SAF Complex will house the base headquarters for the 5th SAB and the 55th SAC.

Lobregat delivered his message starting with a prayer for the fallen SAF 44, prayer for the repose of their souls, prayer for the bereaved families and the lone survivor of the 55th and 84th Special Action Company involved in the Mamasapano incident.

Following up the message of ZAMBOECOZONE Chairperson and Administrator, Christopher Arnuco, who mentioned how the complex came to exist, Lobregat recalled that it was his late mother, Maria Clara Lobregat, while serving in Congress, who filed the bill for the establishment of the ZAMBOECOZONE.

The bill was later enacted into law, Republic Act 7903, creating the ZAMBOECOZONE.

Lobregat said that we have to look at the past and he quoted the famous line by National Hero Jose Rizal , “ Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan” (He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to reach his destination.)

Lobregat said “I am sure Ma’am Caling is happy with what is happening as ZAMBOECOZONE is having a new locator, which is the PNP SAF.

Among the distinguished guests gracing the occasion were Undersecretary for Public Safety of the DILG Peter Irving Corvera, representing DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, PNP – Special Action Force Director Moro Virgilio Lazo who confided to Lobregat that his name Moro was named after the famous Zamboangueño, a basketball star, Luis Moro Lorenzo, brother of Ma’am Caling and uncle of the Congressman.

As to why he was called Moro, Lobregat explained that when Luis Moro Lorenzo went to Manila and because of his dark features and that fact that he came from Zamboanga, people started calling him Moro. “The family up to this date is very proud of his name Moro”, said Lobregat.

Citing history, Lobregat said he could not help but relate word Moro to Bangsamoro in the BBL. Bangsa, he explained, is Malay word for Nation while Moro is the name given by the Spaniards to call the Muslims in the Philippines, to them Moro had reference to the Moors from Morroco who invaded the Iberian (Spanish) Peninsula in 711 AD and ruled Spain for 800 years.

Congressman Lobregat recalled the heroic deeds of the fallen SAF 44 and the SAF survivor in the Mamasapano incident, which resulted in the neutralization of the international terrorist Marwan. He further cited the participation of the PNP SAF in the Zamboanga siege.

Lobregat also recalled that seven years ago, the historic moment in Zamboanga’s history when Zamboangueños united and then Mayor Celso L. Lobregat was given a rare and providential opportunity to speak before the Supreme Court in defense of Zamboanga, Mindanao, the Constitution and the Republic.